Conveyor Handling Interference Means Container Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conveyor systems for container packaging machines face limitations in operational speed and reliability, leading to container separation during handling, incorrect positioning, and increased waste due to accumulated inertia and structural inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

A conveyor system with alternating handling and interference means that maintain a predetermined distance between containers, ensuring they remain adherent during transport, combined with a programmable logic controller for coordinated operation, allowing for high-speed and versatile handling of containers across various dimensions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the handling means operates at high speed, then productivity increases, but containers may separate from pusher elements due to accumulated inertia

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperating speedVSAvoidcontainer positioning accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A synchronous belt is introduced as an intermediary element between the motor and the pusher elements. This belt transmits motion while maintaining synchronous coordination, ensuring that pusher elements remain properly positioned relative to containers even during high-speed operation and braking, thereby preventing separation while enabling high productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The traditional mechanical chain or gear-driven pusher system is replaced with a synchronous belt-driven system. This substitution provides smoother acceleration and deceleration characteristics, reducing inertial effects that cause container separation while maintaining high operating speeds for improved productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If the handling means operates at high speed, then productivity increases, but incorrect positioning occurs at feeding and packaging stations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperating speedVSAvoidcontainer positioning precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The synchronous belt acts as a precision intermediary that maintains fixed phase relationships between drive elements and pusher elements. This ensures containers are positioned accurately at feeding and packaging stations even during high-speed operation, eliminating positioning errors while maintaining high productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The synchronous belt system provides inherent feedback through its toothed engagement mechanism, ensuring that each pusher element receives precise positional information from the drive system. This feedback mechanism maintains positioning precision at high speeds without requiring additional sensors or control systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Device complexity

If traditional conveyor structure is used, then simplicity is maintained, but process reliability and productivity are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconveyor structure simplicityVSAvoidcontainer conveyance volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The conveyor system transitions from static, fixed-speed operation to dynamic, programmable speed control. The programmable logic controller enables the system to adapt speeds and timing for different container types and production requirements, significantly increasing productivity while maintaining operational simplicity through software-based control rather than mechanical complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Device complexity

If traditional conveyor structure is used, then simplicity is maintained, but process reliability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconveyor structure simplicityVSAvoidprocess reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The synchronous belt serves as a reliable intermediary that ensures synchronized motion transmission throughout the conveyor system. This single-point drive architecture eliminates cumulative positioning errors that would occur with multiple drive points, significantly improving process reliability while adding minimal structural complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The programmable logic controller provides multi-functional control, coordinating motor speed, pusher element timing, and station synchronization through a single device. This universal control approach improves reliability by centralizing control logic while maintaining overall system simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4353608A1Conveyor for containers and packaging machine

Publication Date: 2024.04.17 I L P R A

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AI summary

A conveyor (100) for containers (C) comprises a loading surface (110) designed to receive containers and defining a forward path (P) as well as handling means (120) configured to engage and move each container along the forward path; the conveyor further comprises interference means (130) alternating with the handling means (120), wherein each interference means is arranged at a predetermined distance from a respective handling means and is movable along the forward path so as to maintain the predetermined distance (D), defining a motion limiting pair of the container; each motion limiting pair is configured to hold a respective container within a space defined by the limiting pair itself.